The Park Tavern, Macclesfield

Pub SignMan left this review about The Park Tavern

This is quite a smart and tidy taphouse for the local Bollington Brewery, on one of the main roads out of town. The pub has a comfortable two room interior, with the right-hand side occupied by a comfy main bar area with bare boards and a nice two-tone colour scheme on the walls. The bar is down the left side and has a dark wood panelled counter with a matching bar back, that is partly white tiled and has the keg beers listed on a board above. A couple of large tables down the right-hand wall offer banquette and chair seating whilst there are a couple of high tables and stools elsewhere. There's also a raised seating area to the rear with some short banquettes and basic chairs under high dark wood panels with a large collection of ceramics, bottles, books and other such bits along the top and there is a skylight back here as well as a beam lined with hops. A few more seats to the rear left, beyond the end of the bar, round out the seating options, although these are perhaps a bit isolated from the rest of the action. A bookcase opposite the bar has a collection of battered tomes and I was surprised to see some kids in the bar early on a Tuesday evening, seemingly getting some tutoring for their homework. Stairs to the rear lead up to some sort of first floor room that a lot of old folk were heading up to, possibly for a private function, although I didn't venture up there myself, and there's a beer garden out the back.
Five Bollington beers occupied the handpulls - Oat Mill Stout, Long Hop, White Nancy, Eastern Nights and Best - whilst five craft keg options rounded out the draught selection. The barman was quite friendly and poured me a pint of the Oat Mill Stout, but then topped it up with a pale ale by mistake and had to start afresh!
I think I was hoping for something a bit special from this place, but instead found a perfectly functional pub with some great beer but nothing particularly memorable or out of the ordinary to it. There was a good crowd of locals which helped create a bit of atmosphere and I found the place comfortable and easy to settle.down in, but it wasn't quite the revelatory visit I'd hoped it might be. Still an essential port of call if you find yourself in town though.

Date of visit - 16th January 2024

On 12^th May 2024 - rating: 7
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